redearslider.com

Today I went to Petco, and bought some plants for my turtle, and a hotter basking light bulb for the basking area because the basking area isn't hot enough. The ones at the store that are provided for turtles are not hot enough, so I went to a different part of the reptile section, and saw more basking bulbs. I grabbed a 150W bulb to make the basking area 80-90 degrees F, but the stats on the bulb says that there is NO UVB. If i replace my old basking bulb, with the new 150W basking bulb with no UVB, is that safe, and acceptable, or is it not. I have no problems returning it and getting a different one that you guys recommend me, but if I could please get some recommendations on getting a hotter bulb, please let me know, because my basking area is definitely not 90 degrees.

You do need uvb. You can combine a uvb bulb with a heat source, so you could keep it.

I used to use a 100 watt incandescent bulb for heat with a cfl for uvb.

Now, I use a MegaRay MVB for both heat and uvb.

So, if you want just one bulb, you should return it. If you are willing to go with two, keep it.

A 150W is pretty powerful, how close are you positioning these bulbs? What's the room temperature? How are you measuring the basking temps?

Most branded bulbs cost way too much and are junk because they just don't last. Trust me! Incandescent bulbs work much better. If you can't find them just look on line.

steve wrote:A 150W is pretty powerful, how close are you positioning these bulbs? What's the room temperature? How are you measuring the basking temps?

6 inches away from the water level. Room temp is probably like 75 degrees or 74 in my room. I'm measuring just by using my hand which isn't a good idea, but I can exchange that bulb for a thermometer. I get all my supplies at Petco, and I need a recommendation bulb straight from there If possible. If not I can get a bulb from home depot or amazon.com.

Kansasslider wrote:Most branded bulbs cost way too much and are junk because they just don't last. Trust me! Incandescent bulbs work much better. If you can't find them just look on line.

What do you straightly recommend so that I can go to the store, and pick it up. I can probably get the bulb at home depot.

the basking area isn't close enough to 90 degrees, so I'm just searching for a better bulb.

You can buy halogen bulbs at Home Depot make sure you get a flood and not a spot. Try different wattages until you find one you like. The bulbs they sell at Petco are expensive and from my experience not good. I had several Zilla bulbs burn out so fast I returned them. I still use incandescent bulbs. I stocked up before they phased them out.

Kansasslider wrote:You can buy halogen bulbs at Home Depot make sure you get a flood and not a spot. Try different wattages until you find one you like. The bulbs they sell at Petco are expensive and from my experience not good. I had several Zilla bulbs burn out so fast I returned them. I still use incandescent bulbs. I stocked up before they phased them out.

What's the difference between an incandescent bulb, and a halogen bulb? I trust what you recommend and what you say, so I will definitely check out the halogen bulb Oh! And what's the flood, and spot? Never heard those terms on a light bulb before. And YES! I will never go back to Petco for their bulbs; the one I bought was 11 bucks! I thought it was a waste of money.

http://home.howstuffworks.com/question151.htm
A spot light puts out a beam of light in a small spot. A flood light spreads the light over a larger area.

Something doesn't sound right. The distances, wattages, and temps vary wildly for me to know what's going on.

Since we could be dealing with high-power equipment and your turtle, lets review what you have (please add pictures):

What size tank? How much water in there? How big is the turtle? What is the basking area made of? What are you using for thermometers? WHat basking light are you using? What uvb? What kind of fixtures? What sort or arrangement are they in?

Kansasslider wrote:http://home.howstuffworks.com/question151.htm
A spot light puts out a beam of light in a small spot. A flood light spreads the light over a larger area.

Okay, thanks for clearing that up for me I'll be sure to get the flood bulb.

steve wrote:Something doesn't sound right. The distances, wattages, and temps vary wildly for me to know what's going on.

Since we could be dealing with high-power equipment and your turtle, lets review what you have (please add pictures):

What size tank? How much water in there? How big is the turtle? What is the basking area made of? What are you using for thermometers? WHat basking light are you using? What uvb? What kind of fixtures? What sort or arrangement are they in?

I returned the 150 watt bulb today. And yes I will send you pictures tomorrow after noon. I get home from school around 3:30, and I will email you pictures around 4. I live in California, so I don't know what your time zone is. But that's when I'll send you the pictures.

steve wrote:Something doesn't sound right. The distances, wattages, and temps vary wildly for me to know what's going on.

Since we could be dealing with high-power equipment and your turtle, lets review what you have (please add pictures):

What size tank? How much water in there? How big is the turtle? What is the basking area made of? What are you using for thermometers? WHat basking light are you using? What uvb? What kind of fixtures? What sort or arrangement are they in?

Size of tank: 35 gallon-----How much water: unknown----- Size of turtle: 4 inches----- Basking area: Zoo med turtle dock----- Thermometer: none----- Basking light: UVB 75 watt----- Fixtures: plastic plants (doesn't eat them), river rocks, water heater, filter, UVB and UVA lights, leaf decor along the rim of tank
My turtle currently is digging out all the plastic plants, so it looks like there are no plants in there. I'm cleaning the water, and adding the plants she dug out back in this weekend, so it won't be as plain as it is now.

I went to Lowes and they only had 65w incandescent bulbs (flood), but they had 90w halogen bulbs (flood). I don't think a 65w incandescent bulb will be warn enough, so is halogen ok? I would also like to stop buying ZooMed or other brand name heating/basking lights. Basically do halogen flood bulbs work just as well or the same as incandescent flood bulbs?